Washing machine system



June 1969 R. w. HOUSER WASHING MACHINE SYSTEM Sheet 01'2 Original FiledMay 15, 1964 IN VEN'TOR. ROY W. HOUSER HIS ATTORNEYS June 3,' 1969 R. w.HOUSER WASHING MACHINE SYSTEM Sheet 2 012 Original Filed May 15, 1964 mR s U W W. ,7, m m M Y B LIE $33043 \w HIS ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent 3,447,686 WASHING MACHINE SYSTEM Roy W. Houser, Orange, Calif.,assignor to Robertshaw Controls Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation ofDelaware Continuation of application Ser. No.

1964. This application June 16, 1967, Int. Cl. B01d 21/26; D06f U.S. Cl.210-144 367,824, May 15, Ser. No. 646,738 35/00 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE This application is a continuation application of itscopending parent application, Ser. No. 367,824, filed May 15, 1964, andnow abandoned.

This invention relates to an improved washing machine having means tovary the speed of the spinning Washing compartment thereof in relationto the unbalanced condition thereof.

This invention also relates to an improved method of operating such awashing machine as well as to improved parts for such a washing mac heor the like.

It is well known that many washing machines or the like have variablespeed means for spinning the Washing compartment thereof to centrifugewater out of the clothes in the washing compartment subsequent to awashing or rinsing cycle of operation.

However, it is also well known that during the high speed spinning ofthe washing compartment, an un balanced condition of the clothes thereincauses the spinning washing compartment to move in an eccentric mannerwhereby if the unbalanced condition exceeds a predetermined value, thesame is detrimental to the parts of the washing machine as well asproduces an objectionable noise and Walking of the machine.

According to the teachings of this invention, improved means areprovided for vary-ing the speed of rotation of the washing compartmentin relation to the unbalanced condition thereof so that the unbalancedcondition of the spinning washing compartment will not adversely affectthe washing machine and the entire Washing cycle of the machine can becompleted even though the clothes in the washing compartment areunbalanced.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedwashing machine having one or more of the novel features set forth aboveor hereinafter shown or described.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved parts for sucha washing machine or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from areading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view illustrating the improved washing machinesystem of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top view of the reading sheet of the programmember of FIGURE 1.

variable speed drive 17, the belt 15 3,447,686 Patented June 3, 1969FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates the high speedsetting for the spinning washing compartment.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafiter describedand illustrated as being particularly adaptable for controlling thespeed of rotation of a wash ing compartment of a washing machine or thelike, it is to be understood that the various features of this inventioncan be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide othercontrol means for other devices as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention. 1Referring now to FIGURE 1, the improved washing machine system of thisinvention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 andincludes a frame means 11 suitably supporting a rotatable washingcompartment or tub 12 therein whereby the washing compartment 12 isadapted to be spun at a relatively high speed in a manner hereinafterdescribed to centrifuge the water from the clothes disposed thereinsubsequent to a wash or a rinse cycle of the system 10.

In particular, a suitable transmission 13 is interconnected to thewashing compartment 12 to rotate the same upon actuation of thetransmission 13 by rotational movement of a driven pulley 14.

The driven pulley 14 is driven by a suitable transmission belt 15 loopedaround the driven pulley 14 and a pulley 16 carried by a suitable motoralso being disposed around part of an idler 18 carried on the end of anarm 19 of an L-shaped lever 20 pivotally mounted to the frame means atpoint 62.

The variable speed drive pulley 16 is conventional in the art and is soconstructed and arranged that when the idler wheel 18 is disposed in theposition illustrated in FIGURE 1, the motor 17 drives the spinningcompartment 12 at the lowest speed thereof.

However, when the idler 18 is disposed in the position illustrated inFIGURE 3, the drive pulley 16 rotates the washing compartment 12 at itshighest speed of rotation whereby it can be seen that positioning of theidler 18 in between the positions illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 causesthe washing compartment thereof to be spun at a speed intermediate thehigh and low speeds thereof for a purpose hereinafter described.

The lever 20 has the other arm 21 thereof intercom nected to one end 22of a compression spring 23 having the other end 24 thereof suitablyinterconnected to the frame means 11 in any suitable manner.

In this manner, the comprssion spring 23 tends to maintain the idler 18in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 whereby actuation of the motor17 causes the spinning compartment 12 to spin at its lowest speed.

A pneumatic actuator 25 is provided for adjusting the position of theidler 18 between the positions illustrated in FIGURES l and 3 in amanner hereinafter described, the actuator 25 comprising a flexiblebellows construction having one end 26 thereof fixed relative to theframe means 11 and having the other end 27 thereof movable relative tothe frame means 11 in a manner hereinafter described and interconnectedto the end of the arm 21 by suitable means 28.

Thus, it can be seen that when the bellows construction 25 is evacuatedin a manner herein-after described, the movable wall 27 thereof movesfrom the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 to the position illustrated inFIGURE 3 to cause the motor 17 to rotate the washing compartment 12 atits highest speed.

In order to actuate the actuator 25 from the position illustrated inFIGURE 1 to the position illustrated in 3 FIGURE 3, a program member 29is provided and is adapted to be rotated relative to a reading head 30by a suitable timer motor or the like, the program member 29 comprisinga flexible reading sheet 31, a rigid backing member 32 and a porousresilient material 33 disposed between the backing member 32 and thereading sheet 31 to urge the reading sheet 31 to scaling engagement withthe reading surface 34- of the reading head 30.

The reading head 30 has a plurality of passages 35 formed therein andadapted to be interconnected together by blister means 36 formed in apredetermined pattern in the reading sheet 31.

For example, the left hand passage means 35 in the reading head 30 canbe interconnected to the inlet side of a vacuum pump 37 by a flexibleconduit means 38 while the right hand passage means 35 in FIGURE 1 isadapted to be interconnected to the interior of the bellows construction25 by a flexible conduit 39.

Thus, when a particular blister 36 of the reading sheet 31 comes intoregistration with the passages 35 and the reading head 30, the channel'40 defined by the particular blister 36 interconnects the vacuum pump37 with the bellows construction 25 to cause the idler 18 to move fromthe low speed position illustrated in FIGURE 1 to the high speedposition illustrated in FIGURE 3 so that the washing compartment 12 canbe spun at its highest speed for centrifuging purposes.

However, when an aperture means 41 in the reading sheet 31 comes intoregistration with the right hand passage means 35 of the reading head 30of FIGURE 1, air is adapted to return to the bellows construction 25through the aperture means 41 to permit the idler 18 to return from theposition illustrated in FIGURE 3 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1under force of the tension spring 23.

Therefore, it can be seen that the program member 29 is adapted tooperate the various devices of the washing machine system through thepredetermined pattern of blisters 36 and aperture means 41 thereof sothat when a particular washing or rinsing cycle is terminated, the sameinterconnects together the vacuum pump 37 with the actuator 25 to causethe variable speed means 16 to rotate the spinning compartment 12 at thehighest speed thereof.

However, it has been previously set forth that should the clothes beunbalanced in the washing compartment 12, the same tends to rotate withan eccentric motion as illustrated by dotted lines in FIGURE 1 wherebysuch unbalanced condition of the rotating washing compartment 12 notonly adversely afiects the parts of the washing machine but also causesobjectionable noise and tends to move the washing machine relative toits mounting.

According to the teachings of this invention, however, improved meansare provided for reducing the speed of the spinning compartment 12 inproportion to the unbalanced condition thereof so that the washingcompartment 12 can still be spun by the motor 17 at a lower speedwhereby the unbalanced condition does not adversely affect the washingmachine and the like.

In particular, it can be seen that a sensing device 42 of this inventionis mounted to the frame means 11 of the washing machine in a mannerhereinafter described whereby the sensing means 42 senses the unbalancedcondition of the spinning washing compartment 12 and modifies theactuator 25 in a manner hereinafter described to reduce the speed of thespinning washing compartment 12 to a speed thereof which will notadversely affect the washing machine even though the clothes in thewashing compartment 12 are unbalanced.

In particular, the sensing means 42 comprises a housing 4 3 having atubular extension 44 threaded into a suitable bore 45 of the frame means11 whereby the housing 43 will be subject to vibrations created by theunbalanced condition of the spinning compartment 12 for a purposehereinafter described.

The housing 43 is provided with an inlet 46 and an outlet 47interconnected together by a resilient valve seat 48 for a purposehereinafter described, the outlet 47 comprising an internally threadedbore receiving an externally threaded cup-shaped retainer 49.

A valve member 50 is disposed in the outlet 47 of the housing 43 and isnormally urged to the closed position by a compression spring 51 having'one end 52 bearing against the valve member 50 and the other end 53thereof bearing against the closed end of the retainer 49.

The inlet 46 of the sensing means 42 is interconnected to the interiorof the bellows construction 25 by a flexible conduit means 54.

An elongated stem or rod 55 is interconnected to the valve member 50 andprojects outwardly through an opening 56 in the closed end of theretainer 49, the rod 55 carrying a suitable weight means 57 on the end58 thereof.

The weight means 57 can comprise a metallic block or the like and has aset screw 59 received in a threaded bore 60 thereof and interconnectingwith a transverse bore 61 which loosely receives the end 58 of the rod55.

In this manner, by loosening the set screw 59, the position of theweight means 57 on the rod 55 can be readily adjusted and, thereafter,by tightening the set screw 59 against the rod 55, the weight means 57will be fixed relative to the valve member 50 for a purpose hereinafterdescribed.

Thus, as long as the valve member 50 remains seated against the valveseat 48, it can be seen that when the program means 29 interconnects thevcuum source 37 with the bellows construction 25, the idler 18 is movedfrom the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 to the position illustrated inFIGURE '3 to cause the motor 17 to rotate the washing compartment 12 atits maximum speed.

However, should the clothes in the washing compartment 12 be unbalancedto cause an eccentric motion of the washing compartment 12, such motionof the washing compartment 12 sets up vibrations in the frame means 11which causes the weight means 57 to vibrate. Such vibration of theweight means 57 causes the valve member 50 to unseat from the valve seat48 in opposition to the force of the compression spring 51 insubstantially a proportionate manner relative to the vibration sensed bythe weight means 57 whereby air is permitted to partially return to thebellows construction 25 by the open valve seat 48.

In this manner the actuator 25 now has the movable wall 27 thereofpositioned in a position intermediate that disposed in FIGURES 1 and 3to cause the idler 18 to assume a position that reduces the speed ofrotation of the washing compartment 12.

Thus, it can be seen that the greater the vibrations set up in the framemeans 11 by the washing compartment 12, the greater the opening of thevalve seat 48 and, the greater the reduction in the speed of rotation ofthe washing compartment 12.

Therefore, it can be seen that the sensing means 42 of this inventionreadily reduces the speed of rotation of the washing compartment 12 inproportion to the unbalanced condition sensed by the sensing means 42 sothat the washing compartment 12 can be continued to be rotated, eventhough the same is unbalanced, at a speed which will not adverselyaffect the washing machine or the like so that the washing machine cancomplete its particular operation without requiring stopping of thesame.

Since different washing machines will have the barmonics thereofdifferent than other washing machines, it can be seen that the sensingmeans 42 of this invention can be readily adjusted for any particularwashing machine by merely varying the position of the retainer 49relative to the housing 43 to adjust the force of the compression spring51. In addition or alternately thereto, the weight means 57 can beadjusted on the rod means 55 whereby the particular sensing means 42 ofthis invention is adapted to control the unbalanced condition of manydifferent types of washing apparatus in the above manner.

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention not only provides animproved washing machine and method of operating the same, but also thisinvention provides improved parts for such a washing machine or thelike.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed asrequired by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within thescope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a washing machine having a washing compartment and variable speedmeans for spinning said compartment at a high or a low speed, theimprovement comprising a variable position vacuum operated actuator foractuating said variable speed means to a particular speed thereof inrelation to the vacuum condition in said actuator, a vacuum source,means for interconnecting said vacuum source to said actuator toposition said actuator for setting said variable speed means to spinsaid compartment at said high speed, and sensing means operativelyinterconnected to said actuator and being responsive to the unbalancedcondition of said spinning washing compartment to vary the vacuumcondition of said actuator so that the same is repositioned to reduceand maintain the speed of said speed means to a particular speed thereofintermediate said high and low speeds and in relation to the particularsensed unbalanced condition as long as said particular sensed unbalancedcondition exists.

2. In a washing machine as set forth in claim 1, said sensing meansincluding a valve means interconnecting the interior of 'said actuatorwith the atmosphere, said valve means opening in proportion to saidunbalanced condition.

3. In a washing machine having a washing compartment and variable speedmeans for spinning said compartment, the improvement comprising avariable position vacuum operated actuator for actuating said variablespeed means to a particular speed thereof in relation to the vacuumcondition in said actuator, and sensing means operatively interconnectedto said actuator and being responsive to the unbalanced condition ofsaid spinning washing compartment to vary the vacuum condition of saidactuator so that the same is repositioned to reduce the speed of saidspeed means to a particular speed thereof in relation to the particularsensed unbalanced condition, said sensing means including a valve meansinterconnecting the interior of said actuator with the atmosphere, saidvalve means opening in proportion to said unbalanced condition, saidvalve means including a valve seat means secured to said machine and avalve member biased toward said valve seat means by biasing means toclose the same said valve member carrying weight means that isresponsive to vibrations of said machine to move said valve member awayfrom said valve seat in opposition to said biasing means.

4. In a washing machine having a washing compartment and variable speedmeans for spinning said compartment, the improvement comprising avariable position vacuum-operated actuator for actuating said variablespeed means to a particular speed thereof in relation to the vacuumcondition in said actuator, sensing means operatively interconnected tosaid actuator and being responsive to the unbalanced condition of saidspinning washing compartment to vary the vacuum condition of saidactuator so that the same is repositioned to reduce the speed of saidspeed means to a particular speed thereof in relation to the particularsensed unbalanced condition, a vacuum source, and means to interconnectthe vacuum source with said actuator.

5. In a washing machine as set forth in claim 4, said last-named meanscomprising a program member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,706,605 4/1955 Rose et a1.137-38 X 2,920,470 1/1960 Bochan 210-144 X 2,950,009 8/1960 Bochan210-144 X 2,990,705 7/1961 Bochan 68-12 3,043,328 7/1962 Taylor 68-12 X3,048,026 8/1962 Bochan et al. 68-23 X 3,088,593 5/1963 Stilwell 68-24 X3,112,630 12/1963 Anderson et a1 68-12 3,151,066 9/1964 Brenner et al210-363 X 3,285,419 11/1966 Smith 210-144 REUBEN FRIEDMAN, PrimaryExaminer.- J. L. DE CESARE, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

